Gov. Fletcher and (Ret.) Major Webb-Edgingtontour the new Intelligence Fusion Center.

In an effort to better secure the commonwealth against criminal activity and domestic and international terrorism, federal and state agencies have banded together to create the Kentucky Intelligence Fusion Center to improve intelligence sharing among public safety and public service agencies.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, joined by federal and state officials, unveiled the center Oct. 9 in Frankfort. The center is being heralded as a milestone in achieving a unified hub to coordinate and connect all levels of law enforcement and public safety agencies, including fire, health and transportation, and the private sector. A new telephone hotline, 1-866-EYE-ON-KY (1-866-393-6659), is now available for residents to report suspicious or criminal activity of any kind.

“We are working to make Kentuckians safer and more secure through the combined and coordinated efforts of the law enforcement, intelligence and public safety community,” said Gov. Fletcher. “The Intelligence Fusion Center brings together both federal and state expertise to help us better prevent and solve more crimes, as well as to provide a hub for information which will be critical in the event of a response to a natural or man-made disaster.”

The principal role of the Intelligence Fusion Center is to compile, blend, analyze and disseminate criminal intelligence and other information, including, but not limited to, threat assessment, public safety, law enforcement, public health, social service and public works, and to support efforts to anticipate, identify, prevent and monitor criminal activity.

The ultimate goal is to provide a mechanism by which law enforcement and public safety agencies and the private sector can come together with a common purpose to improve the ability to safeguard our homeland and prevent criminal activity.

The Kentucky Intelligence Fusion Center is currently a collaboration of the following agencies: the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS), the Kentucky State Police (KSP), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of Corrections, the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DOHS). Additional state and local agencies are currently evaluating staffing the Kentucky Intelligence Fusion Center.

The capabilities of the Intelligence Fusion Center include, but are not limited to:

Provide all crimes and terrorism intelligence analytical services;

Support the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) with counter-terrorism investigators;

Assist all federal, state and local law enforcement with their request for information on suspects by utilizing available databases;

Assist law enforcement in the location of subjects, with suspect vehicle registration, and with suspect driver license photo and data;

Serve as the conduit for law enforcement’s request for information from other state fusion centers;

Serve as a repository for the state’s identified critical infrastructures;

Receive field intelligence reports and other reports from law enforcement officers from their in-car mobile data computers through the Kentucky Open Portal Solution (KyOps);

Monitor live video feed of selected traffic sites throughout Kentucky;

Monitor the 24-hour news channels for situational awareness;

Monitor the National Weather Service;

Monitor sensitive material convoy while traveling through the state;

Monitor Emergency Operations Center incidents; and

Radio communications center for SAFE Patrol Program - a motorist aid program.

The Intelligence Fusion Center is staffed by 30 personnel from nine agencies.

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The KOHS has been charged by Gov. Fletcher to lead the commonwealth's coordination and collaboration efforts with public and private preparedness partners to ensure Kentucky is ready and prepared. For more information about homeland security in Kentucky, please visit www.homelandsecurity.ky.gov.